Chapter 113 A Double Act

He spoke with such conviction, and paired with that serious expression, he actually managed to make a few of the bailiffs waver.

A few of the bolder ones had already gripped their sword hilts and were slowly closing in.

Qi Huan was so angry he almost laughed out loud, pointing at Liu Ziming as he cursed.

"Liu Ziming, have you lost your mind? Open your dog eyes and look clearly—I am Qi Huan, a Banner Officer of the Prefecture Demon Suppression Division."

"And this one beside me is Chen Mu. You son of a bitch, just yesterday you were calling him 'Brother Chen' every other sentence, and today you're turning your back on us?!"

Liu Ziming remained unmoved, instead letting out a cold sneer.

"What a fine fox spirit. Your shapeshifting arts are quite impressive; you've even mimicked their voices and mannerisms perfectly. It's a pity you can fool others, but you cannot fool me."

"Chen Mu is my sworn brother; he would never dare to trespass into a place strictly sealed off by Lord Xu at such a time! You must be one of those meddlesome fox demons in disguise!"

Qi Huan was furious and looked ready to rush forward and start a fight, but Chen Mu raised a hand to stop him.

He had been observing Liu Ziming; the man's eyes were cold, but his breathing was rapid, and the hand gripping his sword was trembling slightly.

He was nervous—extremely nervous.

Furthermore, he had mentioned their bond as sworn brothers and that he would never trespass.

A thought suddenly struck Chen Mu. He stepped forward, looking at Liu Ziming with a calm gaze.

"Liu Ziming, has the injury on your leg fully healed?"

Liu Ziming paused slightly.

Chen Mu continued.

"In Sangye Village, in the side room of Blind Li's house, you were eroded by the cat demon's dreamscape and were on the verge of turning into a demon, walking out the door yourself."

"To save you, I used a clever kick to strike the back of your knee, then kicked you back into the room from the doorway several times, breaking your leg bone, just to drag you back from the gates of hell."

The surrounding bailiffs were stunned, staring blankly at Liu Ziming and Chen Mu.

They had heard rumors about the incident at Sangye Village and knew it was dangerous, but they didn't know it involved such details.

"At the time, you were rolling on the ground in pain, clutching your leg and shouting, 'Chen Mu, it hurts like hell, stop kicking!'"

"Have you forgotten the debt of gratitude for saving your life at the cost of your broken leg?"

Liu Ziming opened his mouth, his face flushing bright red. The mask of official business finally cracked, and his face was full of embarrassment and shame.

His hand gripping the sword slowly dropped, the tip pointing at the ground. The surrounding bailiffs saw this and stopped in their tracks, looking at the three of them, at a loss.

Just as they were at a stalemate, Liu Ziming stomped his foot, furious from embarrassment.

"Disperse! Everyone back to your posts. Keep your eyes peeled and don't let any suspicious characters in!"

The bailiffs, as if granted amnesty, quickly put away their weapons and retreated to their posts, though they still glanced over from time to time, full of curiosity.

Liu Ziming glared fiercely at Chen Mu. Where was the cold killing intent in that gaze? It was clearly the awkwardness and resentment of someone thinking, 'Did you really have to bring that up?'

He sheathed his sword, walked over slowly, and lowered his voice, speaking extremely quickly.

"Follow me. Don't just stand here."

As he spoke, he didn't wait for Chen Mu and Qi Huan to react, but walked toward a breakfast stall not far outside the town.

Chen Mu and Qi Huan exchanged a glance and followed him.

The sky was beginning to brighten, and wisps of white steam were already rising from the breakfast stall.

The stall owner was an honest-looking old man. Seeing the three of them approach, he hurriedly wiped down a table and greeted them with a smile.

Liu Ziming sat down with a thud and caught his breath.

"Three bowls of tofu pudding, extra chili, and six steamed buns. Also, slice up half a catty of spiced beef."

"Coming right up!"

The old man responded and hurried to work. Only then did Liu Ziming look at Chen Mu and Qi Huan; the toughness on his face was gone, replaced by a trace of exhaustion and worry.

"Chief Qi, I apologize for earlier. Is your injury alright?"

Qi Huan let out a cold snort and shook his head. He didn't lash out again, but simply asked.

"Explain yourself first. What was the meaning of that earlier? Were you really going to arrest us as fox demons?"

Liu Ziming gave a bitter smile and rubbed his hands together.

"That wasn't... I was just putting on a show for them."

"Xu Changze has planted quite a few eyes and ears here in Qinglin Town. If I hadn't put on that act and just let you in, the news would have reached Xu Changze's ears immediately."

"Then he would immediately know that I haven't been bought off by him and am still in contact with you. That would mean certain death for me, and it would be even harder for you to investigate what you need."

As they spoke, the old man brought over three steaming bowls of tofu pudding, with chili oil floating on the surface, the aroma wafting up. The steamed buns and spiced beef were served shortly after.

Liu Ziming picked up a spoon and stirred the tofu pudding, but he had no appetite.

Chen Mu took a sip, but was choked by the chili and coughed twice. After a while, he looked at Liu Ziming and asked.

"So, we really can't get into Qinglin Town?"

Liu Ziming thought for a moment, chewed on a steamed bun, and spoke vaguely.

"The town entrance is crowded and eyes are everywhere, and it's still early morning. Xu Changze currently thinks quite highly of me and has temporarily handed over all the defense of Qinglin Town to me. On the surface, I cannot publicly defy his orders and let you in."

Chen Mu didn't speak, just waited quietly, knowing he must have more to say.

Liu Ziming used his spoon to draw circles in the bowl, stirring the tofu pudding into mush, his voice dropping even lower.

"However, there is a small gate."

Qi Huan frowned.

"A small gate? Wasn't the town sealed off?"

"The gates on the surface are sealed, but the ones in the shadows can't be."

Liu Ziming pursed his lips toward the west side of the town.

"Qinglin Town had bandits years ago, and the wealthy families in the town secretly dug several tunnels connecting to the outside. One of the exits is in the dilapidated thatched hut in that area to the west. I discovered it by accident while patrolling."

He paused again, looked around, and seeing the stall owner busy at the stove in the distance with no one else nearby, he continued.

"Xu Changze is in the town now, staying in a detached courtyard vacated by the wealthy Sun family. That place used to be where the Sun family patriarch rested; although it's secluded, it's quite luxurious."

"Xu Changze brought us here in a hurry in the middle of the night. As soon as he entered town, he went straight to the Piaoxiang Pavilion, brought a few top courtesans into the detached courtyard, and hasn't come out since."

Qi Huan and Chen Mu exchanged a glance, the look of confusion in their eyes deepening.

Xu Changze was severely injured by Chen Mu just last night and had traveled all the way to Qinglin Town; how could he still have the leisure and inclination to seek out courtesans?

Qi Huan couldn't help but ask.

"This Xu Changze... he certainly has boundless energy."

Liu Ziming let out a sneer, his expression somewhat strange.

"Boundless is an understatement—it's absurd. Yesterday, when I took some men to the courtyard to report on official business, I could hear... quite a commotion from inside, even through the courtyard wall."

"Xu Changze wouldn't see anyone either, saying through the door that he was declining visitors and that no one was to disturb him; he said he needed to 'conduct in-depth research on the local customs.'"

He enunciated the words "conduct in-depth research" with heavy emphasis, his tone full of mockery.

Chen Mu was silent for a moment, then slowly stood up.

"Take us to see."

"Now?" Liu Ziming couldn't help but be taken aback.

Chen Mu nodded.

"Xu Changze's actions are bizarre. He was injured at the Peony Pavilion last night, and then immediately went to seek pleasure here—it defies logic. I must confirm his condition with my own eyes."

Liu Ziming hesitated, looked at the bloodstains on Qi Huan's chest, then at Chen Mu's gaze, and finally nodded.

"Fine, but you must listen to me and not act rashly. I always feel that something is wrong with that detached courtyard."